As we celebrate the 125th independence of the Philippines, it is a good time for scholars to learn and ready themselves on their independence and finding the right place for them. With this, the Chinese-Filipino Business Club, Incorporated (CFBCI) established the “Finding the Right Place For You!” seminar to help the scholars carve their own paths and create the circumstances that resonate with their authentic selves that took place at Tower 1, Binondo, Manila on 18th of June 2023.

The journey towards independence and finding the right place for oneself is deeply personal and transformative. That is why our very own, Mr. Fernando “Kuya Perdi” Alarcon, Jr., a licensed professional teacher, master’s degree on education, and a CFBCI Alumnus, on his talk “Finding the Right Place for You!” individually asked the scholars to introduce themselves and add what are you going to be in the next five (5) years or more of their life. The CFBCI Scholars actively participated the activity and everyone found out that our scholars really has something looking forward into their lives. There we have a scholar who wanted to be a Certified Public Accountant, a successful businessman, a graduate of their respective courses with flying colors, and even to be a Miss Universe!

Kuya Perdi explained that there are several institutions that constitutes to finding your right place. We have the Family, Education, Health, Politics, Economics, and Religion. It is pinpointed that finding your right place begins with a courageous step away from societal expectations and a resolute commitment to self-discovery. It is a declaration that our lives and choices are not predetermined, thats why being aware of these institutions is really a great help. CFBCI Scholars are very grateful for the opportunity to know about these institutions for them to carve their own paths.

As we all know, life is not just about serenity… it also has a LOT of rejections. Kuya Perdi taught the scholars how to handle being rejected as it really a part of our lives. Rejection, no matter how good or how planned your life is, will be given. You must try and try until you succeed, and always give your best shot. As you acknowledge your rejection, you should also celebrate your wins – may it be big or small. Always aim to be a good example.

Aside from celebrating our country’s independence, it is also a day to honor our fathers as we also celebrate the Father’s day. Our very own inspiring and hardworking boss, and a father himself to his family, business, and to CFBCI Scholars – Mr. Samuel Lee Uy – prepared a very relevant talk for the scholars together with their parent to help them build and break the stigma about talking about sex education and discussing it within family members.

Sir Sammy led his talk entitled “SEX and the Single Person”. He explained that sex is a gift from God as God gave sexual drives for a purpose. It is always to be expressed within certain moral or ethical frameworks. Just like the marriage. In Genesis 2: 23-25 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife and they will become one flesh.” The purpose of a sexual relationship between a man and a woman is fulfilled in the context of marriage. Marriage is seen as a sacred bond that provides a foundation for the expression of sexual desire, intimacy, and procreation. Thus, having this gift from God taken outside of the purpose will only result in perversion – turn something good and use it for evil.

The talk also warned the CFBCI Scholars, especially the women that in the sexual revolution, women have been… and still are the big losers. Mainly because the woman is typically left holding the bag when an unintended pregnancy arises, and she almost invariably pays a much higher price than her partner. With the exception of syphilis and AIDS, women typically have more severe effects from STDs than males. And, women who subscribe to the Playboy theory of sex as recreation exchange several sexual encounters for… nothing.

Sir Sammy also presented that Non-marital Sex has several consequences like emotional effects, interpersonal effects, spiritual effects, and physical effects. That is why he emphasized that IT IS GREAT TO WAIT because according to John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it”.

Sir Sammy end his talk by inculcating to CFBCI Scholars that sex is great… when done at the right age, at the right time…

Following the really beneficial and engaging address from our speakers, everyone prepared themselves to have their snacks and lunch to eat altogether before leaving the office. The CFBC Chorale held its another practice in order to get ready and familiarize their piece for their upcoming performance tentatively on September.

菲華工商總會訊：本會於六月十八日（星期日），假八樓禮堂為「點亮未來」助學方案的受助生舉辦生活技能交流培育講座，講座內容著重於培養學員的道德思想，個人素質和生活技能的提高以及良好生活習慣的養成，陶冶身心。當天共有七十三名受助生出席。出席領導有：執行副理事長黃書瑋，常務顧問曾煥眉，理事留牡丹、張其安。

座講分為兩場；本月第一位主講人是二零一七年畢業於菲律濱師範大學(Philippine Normal University)，榮獲菲律濱語教育藝術碩士學位的受助生Pro. Fernando “Kuya Perdi” Alarcon，Jr.。他目前擔任嗎拉汶大學藝術和科學學院院長助理。講座題目是「為你找到合適的工作！」。 主講人首先要求受助生介紹自己，並講述在未來五年或更長時間內的生活計劃。在這裡大家發現每個人都對自己未來的生活充滿期待，學員們都有各自的理想，有的想成為一名註冊會計師、成功的商人、以優異的成績畢業於自己的專科，甚至成為環球小姐等。

Kuya Perdi解釋，有很多環境因素可能影響我們走向自己想要的路，如家庭、教育、健康、政治、經濟和宗教等。人生的每一個階段都會有很多人為你提供意見，教你選擇這個，選擇那個。想要有一個理想的未來，就要果斷地擺脫上述環境因素加諸於你的枷鎖。要堅定致力於自我肯定，不懼於開闢未來要行的路，不斷嘗試，始終全力以赴，直到成功。

我們的生活環境是無法預先選擇的，也不會總是一帆風順； Kuya Perdi教導學員們如何處理被拒絕（失敗）的問題，因為它與我們的生活息息相關。無論你的生活多好或做出多完美的計劃，都會有被拒絕的時候。你必須要不懈努力與嘗試，並記得：機會永遠是留給有準備的人。當你能坦然接受拒絕時，你將越挫越勇，勝利就在不遠的前方等著你。Kuya Perdi幫助學員們開闢自己的道路，創造與真實自我相一致的環境。

七月修養講座這天剛好是父親節，本會邀請家長與受助生們一起出席，由本會執行副理事長黃書瑋，為學員們及他們的父母，準備了一個別開生面的演講，題目為「性與單身人士」，幫助他們建立和打破談論「性教育」——這個在家庭成員之間羞於啟齒的話題。黃執行副理事長說到，性是上帝的禮物，因為上帝出於某種目的給予性衝動。但它是要在某些道德或倫理框架內表達。就像婚姻一樣。在創世記2：23-25中，「因此，人要離開父母，與他的妻子結合。他們將成為一體。」男女之間性關係的目的在婚姻中得以實現。婚姻被視為一種神聖的紐帶，為親密關係和生育提供了基礎。因此，讓這種來自上帝的禮物被帶出目的之外，只會導致變態——把好的東西變成壞的東西，用它來作惡。

黃執行副理事長特別提醒女生，在性愛中女性永遠是輸家。主要是因為如果意外懷孕時，她將付出比伴侶更多的價格。濫交的結果，除了梅毒和愛滋病之外，女性通常比男性承受更嚴重的後果。婚前性行為有幾個後果，如情緒影響、人際關係影響、精神影響和身體影響。這就是為什麼他強調等待是偉大的。執行副理事長黃書瑋在演講最後向受助生們灌輸性是偉大的，應該在正確的年齡，和正確的時間去體驗，才會有美好的結果。

許多青春期的孩子由於缺乏正確的性知識，沒有性規范的約束和性保護的意識，在家庭教育中又是避諱的話題，所以導致早孕，影響學業和未來規劃。本次講到意義深重的性話題，是希望學員們能更理性地面對性愛，和它帶來的一些身心影響，進而避免過早偷嘗禁果，而後悔莫及。